"And a place where everybody could really have a lot of fun. I wanted that as part of my vision to be something that was just like my father had in the 1930s."

Leeward started building the community in the 1980s with his sons and it has grown to more than 170 homes. Some residents left condolences on Leeward's Facebook page.

His family also left a message on the page.

"Dear friends, we are deeply saddened by the tragedy at the air race today. Please join us in praying at this time for all the families affected," the message said.

Leeward, was flying a P-51 Mustang in a Reno air race Friday, when he lost control and crashed. Some witnesses are crediting him with using his flying skills to help limit the number of people injured.

"I think he was trying to do whatever he could right up to the end," said Fred Scholz, a witness. "I could hear the engine ... I thought he was coming in on top of us. Instead, he missed us by about 100 feet and went out into the box area in front of us."

Leeward, a son of a pilot, said that he was raised in airports. He worked as a stunt pilot in several films, including "Amelia" and "The Tuskegee Airmen."

He had been part of the Reno air race since 1975, said Mike Houghton, president of the Reno Air Racing Association.

"He was very active in aviation. He did a lot of stunt flying for movies," he said. "He was a close personal friend. Well liked. Great guy. Great family man."